Officers disrupt Meth labs at Jamesport, Gallatin

Three Daviess County citizens face felony charges after law officials disrupted methamphetamine production and distribution operations underway at one residence in Jamesport and one residence in Gallatin on Monday.

Arrested are David Casselman and his wife, Barbara Sue, of Jamesport and David Beck of Gallatin. Bond was set for all three defendants and each are presently being held in jail. Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigations continue.

David Casselman, 45, faces six felony charges: manufacturing a controlled substance (Class B felony), possession of a controlled substance with an intent to distribute (Class B felony), possession of a controlled substance with an intent to distribute (Class B felony), possession of a controlled substance (Class C felony), endangering the welfare of a child in the 1st degree (Class D felony) and unlawful use of a weapon (Class D felony).

Mr. Casselman’s bond was set at $272,500; he is currently incarcerated in the Livingston County Jail at Chillicothe.

Barbara Sue Casselman, 42, was charged with five felony charges. They are the same charges as those faced by her husband except for the arrest on unlawful use of a weapon. Bond was set at $207,500 for Mrs. Casselman. She is being held at the Harrison County Jail at Bethany.

David Beck, 38, was charged with five felony counts: possession of a control substance with intent to distribute (Class B felony), manufacturing a controlled substance (Class B felony), possession of a controlled substance with an intent to distribute (Class B felony), possession of a controlled substance (Class C felony), and maintaining a public nuisance (Class C felony).

Bond for Mr. Beck was set at $200,000. He is currently being held at the Harrison County Jail.

Officers from nine different law enforcement organizations worked together in making the arrests. These include the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) agency of the U.S. Treasury, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Customs, the Gallatin Police Department, the Gilman City Police Department, and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.

“It’s unfortunate that we have this problem in Daviess County but if we all work together, we can address it,” said Daviess County Sheriff Kevin Heldenbrand.

Few other details are being disclosed at this time since other charges are pending. Sheriff Heldenbrand did say suspicious activities alerted local officials about the possibility of meth trafficking which led to these arrests. He also said his office receives anonymous phone calls about suspicious activities almost every week.

“These arrests were made through the cooperation of many agencies involving many people,” says Sheriff Heldenbrand, “Everyone involved had a certain job to accomplish. The cooperation between all these different groups was good, and things went very smoothly with nobody getting hurt.”

“We’re encouraged about working together in the future,” says Sheriff Heldenbrand, “because we’re all working toward the same goals.”